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Tag Archives: David Bowie

In February I went to see Seu Jorge with friends at the Blue Note Jazz Club, 131 West 3rd Street, NYC. Seu Jorge is a Brazilian pop star made popular here in the United States by his appearance in the 2004 Wes Anderson film, ‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou’ (I’ve gotta get some of my songs in a film hahahaha). He recorded covers of David Bowie’s ‘Life on Mars?’, ‘Rock n’ Roll Suicide’, ‘Changes’,’Oh You Pretty Things’, ‘Suffragette City’, ‘Five Years’, ‘Queen Bitch’, ‘When I Live My Dream’, ‘Starman’, ‘Quicksand’, and ‘Rebel, Rebel’ for said film sung in Portuguese and accompanied by nylon string guitar. Bowie’s response was, “had Seu Jorge not recorded my songs in Portuguese I would never have heard this new level of beauty which he has imbued them with”. I had been avoiding Bowie tributes after he died because my relationship with his music is very personal and I didn’t want to feel less about his catalog. I allowed myself this possibility with Seu because I had already heard his covers, I really like them, and this was NOT a tribute show. Portuguese added space for the covers to be particular to Seu and I wanted to hear more of his own music. I really love Antonio Carlos Jobim and Gilberto Gil (Brazilian) so this was a fairly safe bet. Seu has a rich, facile voice and his guitar playing is really sensitive and his rhythm is excellent. He has Samba in his soul for sure with some great jazz inflections and a pop sensibility to boot. His band was outstanding, piano, bass and drums/percussion….I searched for those cats names but have come up blank. If anybody knows their names please write to me!! They were great!! The Blue Note Jazz Club is a special place rich with a history of notable performers since they opened in 1981. The show was sold out but we had a table (much more comfortable than crunching in at the bar). One of the beautiful things about New York City is that an International star can come here and have fans from his/her home country in the audience. It does something for us natives too, it reminds us of the beauty to be found in the world. We crave this feeling in the current isolationist climate fostered by jerks whom I shall not name lest I sully my precious blog page hahahahahaha. Seu began relaxed and became more intense as the set went on. He is a very focused performer. As I’ve probably noted before (see Dungen) I love hearing songs in other languages. I’ve been studying Italian for the past year so I was particularly delighted when he sang a song in Italiano!! I highly recommend Seu Jorge without reservation, go see him live!! You will not be disappointed! Have a great weekend all!!
Upcoming Dates: Saturday April 2nd, 2016 The Purple Hat Foundation’s 6th Annual Benefit @ An Beal Bocht Cafe 445 West 238th Street @ Graystone Ave. Bronx, NYCharity Event featuring all of these righteous acts!!
11:00 – Janice Young
11:30 -Julian Bar-Illan
12:00 – The Deep End
12:30 – Rob McMahon
1:00 – Jim Petrie
1:30 – Riley Fields & Sarah Halliday
2:00 – Pat Harper
3:00 – New York Brogue
3:30 – John Walsh
4:10 – Sloe Guns
5:00 – Mary Courtney
5:30 – Last Stop
6:00 – Philip Lynch (solo)
6:30 – Steve Oates
7:00 – Jerry Dugger and Luca Tozzi
8:00 – Dragonfly 13
9:00 – Electric Walrus
9:30 – DENNISAURUSrex
10:10 – Mitchell Trio
10:50 – The Lounge Act
11:30 – Brooks Thomas

It’s standard practice for music review sites and blogs to give a year-end, best-of list and seeing as I’ve reached the end of my first year as a ‘blogger’ I’ve decided to join the festivities albeit a li’l bit late. I guess my criteria for a great album is pretty straightforward, I like catchy songs which hopefully have something to say or express. Basically the Oliver Sachs notion of an ‘earworm’, tunes which stick in your brain…but in a good way. Anyway, here are some of my picks for the best albums of 2013.
Quasi – Mole City: Label:Kill Rock Stars
Crunchy, inventive, psychedelic rock from one of my favorite bands. Sam Coomes (vox, guitar, roxichord (his invention)) never disappoints with sometimes cryptic lyrics which are nonetheless affecting especially as they are supported by beautiful melodic lines. A double album to boot!!
Speedy Ortiz – Major Arcana: Label: Carpark
It’s no small wonder our lead singer, Sadie, was formerly in a Pavement cover band. I continue to listen to this album and have yet to get sick of it! Plus they’re pretty damn righteous live (https://philiplynchmusic.com/2013/12/31/the-breeders-and-speedy-ortiz/)
Parquet Courts – Light Up Gold: Label: What’s Your Rupture
Punk pop fun songs. Laid back cool guy singer name-checking NYC neighborhoods. How can you go wrong with a lyric like “Socrates died in the fucking gutter!”? heh
Savages – Silence Yourself: Label: Matador
I cannot get This song out of my head and you know what? I don’t care!! Great power here, Jehnny Beth (lead singer) has drawn comparisons to Siouxsie of Siouxsie and The Banshees and rightly so but Savages a faster rock, more edge less gloom.
Julia Holter – Loud City Song: Label: Domino
Atmospheric and mysterious. I really enjoy this album. It’s a nighttime album. Julia is a very interesting composer arranger performer. Spend some time with this one the pay-off is well worth it.
I Heard The Angels Singing, Electrifying Black Gospel From the Nashboro Label 1951 – 1983:
I am not a religious person and I was in the midst of telling a friend this upon entering Other Music (15 East 4th Street, NYC) and they were playing this album which immediately shut my mouth and turned my head on it’s ear!! i.e. seems obvious but this is some of the most inspired music there is plus there are 4 glorious discs!!
David Bowie – Next Day: Label: ISO Records
Everyone and their grandmother seem to be focusing on the design of Next Day, Bowies album ‘Heroes’ cover with a white square over it. What impresses me most about this album is that David can afford to kick off the album with a more middle-of-the-road track rather than something attention grabbing. As you listen further the songs get better and better and then you realize what a great overall album this is. A true return to form! (not that I’m “against” Heathen or the Tin Machine stuff but this is better)
Califone – Stitches: Label: Dead Oceans Records
I love the Red Red Meat album ‘Bunny Gets Paid’. When that band disbanded and formed Califone Tim Rutili carried on with a similar aesthetic and man oh man I couldn’t be happier. Acoustic fuzz, broken imagery and the beauty of persisting despite it all.